Assuming you have the time, energy and discretionary funds to take one of the many courses offered you must do the following:
1. Appear at a local Federal Agency and be fingerprinted and submit an application for a criminal check to get a Transportation Workers ID permit at some expense
2. Provide a current certificate of good physical health including eye sight and hearing within limits by a certified doctor--they will give you a list of such persons in your area
3. Provide a current CPR and Life Savings course completion within the last 2-3 years (I'm unsure of the time )-your local Red Cross runs theses courses.
4. Provide a current urine test --negative for drugs by a certified tester.
5. Its worthless if you don't renew periodically at some expense.
So these things are good things, in my opinion but the time away from my office and the additional cost ( it adds up quickly) makes this a hefty price for an ego boast.
What I did instead was to take an free online course at Boat/US and take some Power/Sail Squadron courses at my High School and I feel confident that these together with my years of cruising up and down the north eastern seaboard make be eligible for the local launch guy to call me "captain".
Don't let the nay Sayers keep you from it if you have the time and energy. Who knows what the future brings for any of us, Captain Gene?
Doug